Konstantin Shukhanov is a political prisoner
A resident of Irkutsk Oblast has been sentenced to seven and a half years in a penal colony on charges of justifying terrorism and inciting extremism for comments online
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Konstantin Shukhanov a political prisoner. Shukhanov was convicted on charges of justifying terrorism and inciting extremist activity for comments he made online. Shukhanov’s prosecution and conviction violated his rights to freedom of expression and a fair trial. We demand the release of Konstantin Shukhanov and the dropping of all criminal charges against him.
What were the charges against Konstantin Shukhanov?
Konstantin Shukhanov was detained on 26 December 2023 in Angarsk, Irkutsk Oblast, and his mobile phone and other electronic devices were seized. On 28 December, he was remanded in custody. He was then charged with public justification of terrorism (Article 205.2, Part 2, of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) for comments he made on Telegram channels about the death of the propagandist Vladlen Tatarsky, blown up in a café in St Petersburg on 3 April 2023. In his comments, Shukhanov expressed admiration and sympathy for Daria Trepova, accused of carrying out the attack, and wished death upon the ‘Orcs’ [Russians]. Shukhanov was charged a second time with the same offence for a comment describing Azov fighters as heroes. The prosecution classified the comment containing the words ‘Hydra 70 [expletive] Russkies forever’ as public incitement to extremism (Article 280, Part 2, CC RF), interpreting it as a ‘call for violence against Russian nationals.’
During the investigation, Shukhanov admitted having left these comments; however, in court he claimed he had not posted them, and his account had been hacked.
On 20 May 2025, the court, taking mitigating circumstances into account, sentenced Shukhanov to 18 months’ imprisonment. The prosecution then appealed the verdict, and on 30 September 2025 the appeal court increased the sentence to seven and a half years’ imprisonment in a general regime penal colony on the grounds that commission of the offences ‘during mobilisation’ was an aggravating circumstance.
Why do we consider Konstantin Shukhanov a political prisoner?
The comments posted about the death of Vladlen Tatarsky do not ‘justify terrorism’ but primarily express sympathy for Daria Trepova and solidarity with Ukraine. Furthermore, even if Shukhanov had been found guilty on this charge, the one-year sentence imposed would have already expired.
In his comment about the Azov Battalion, Shukhanov is endorsing not terrorism but the activities of a Ukrainian military unit which a Russian court unlawfully designated as terrorist.
Finally, we have no grounds to believe the comments regarding the American ‘Hydra 70’ air-to-ground missile could actually have had any dangerous consequences. It is hard to believe the Ukrainian armed forces make decisions about the use of missiles based on the opinions of commentators from Russia.
The severe sentence imposed on Shukhanov is disproportionate to the actual degree of danger posed to the public by the actions attributed to him.
A detailed description of Konstantin Shukhanov’s case and of our position is available on our website.
How can you help?
You can write to Konstantin Shukhanov at the following address:
RU:
Российская Федерация, 672000, Забайкальский край, г. Чита, Угданский проезд, д. 61, ФКУ ИК-3 УФСИН России по Забайкальскому краю, Шуханов Константин Владимирович, 1996 г. р.
EN:
Konstantin Vladimirovich Shukhanov (born 1996), Penal Colony No. 3, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Zabaikalsky Krai, 61 Ugdansky Proezd, Chita, Zabaikalsky Krai, 672000, Russia.
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Please note that letters in languages other than Russian are highly unlikely to reach the intended recipient.
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